title: Tuberculosis among health care workers.
abstract: To assess the annual risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among health care workers (HCWs), the incidence rate ratio for tuberculosis (TB) among HCWs worldwide, and the population-attributable fraction of TB to exposure of HCWs in their work settings, we reviewed the literature. Stratified pooled estimates for the LTBI rate for countries with low (<50 cases/100,000 population), intermediate (50-100/100,000 population), and high (>100/100,000 population) TB incidence were 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0%-4.6%), 6.9% (95% CI 3.4%-10.3%), and 8.4% (95% CI 2.7%-14.0%), respectively. For TB, estimated incident rate ratios were 2.4 (95% CI 1.2-3.6), 2.4 (95% CI 1.0-3.8), and 3.7 (95% CI 2.9-4.5), respectively. Median estimated population-attributable fraction for TB was as high as 0.4%. HCWs are at higher than average risk for TB. Sound TB infection control measures should be implemented in all health care facilities with patients suspected of having infectious TB.
authors.affiliation: University A. Avogadro, Novara, Italy. i.baussano06@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baussano
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pivetta
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bugiani
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scano
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission